Swallows gave a debut to Yagan Sasman following his arrival from Kaizer Chiefs, as Ndumiso Mabena, Elias Pelembe and Menzi Masuku picked out Royal AM’s starting eleven.
The first openings went to the Dube Birds minutes in when Ruzaigh Gamildien side-footed a knockdown wide before Dillon Solomons flashed a ball from the left-side across the face of goal.
Royal AM looked to come into their own on the half-hour mark after an uninspiring start and good work on the left by Mabena set Pelembe clear, but goalkeeper Virgil Vries smothered.
Neither of the two outfits entered the second half on the back of substitutions from the bench, but opted to show faith with the initial starting contingent from the first stanza.
A revived AM showed a few promising moments following the earlier phases of the second half moreover through the off-the-ball runs from in particular Kabelo Mahlasela.
The Dube Birds then decided to throw in the first change 12 minutes from the break in Keletso Makgalwa, who came on to fill the space of Solomons.
Royal AM thoroughly battled away following the closing period, but were nearly caught out from Gamildien’s shot outside the area and a header from Junaid Sait following a free-kick.
The host snatched the winner in the dying seconds after substitute Strydom Wambi attacked a pin-point delivery from the right by Makgalwa to head in from the back-post.
With seconds to go, Royal AM looked to grab an equaliser but the final score showed 1-0 to Swallows.
